Disability

The social security system now provides income-maintenance benefits for qualified workers who suffer a long-term total disability. I propose extending this program to cover short-term disability due to illness or injury. This coverage would supplant the income-maintenance aspects of workers' compensation and would extend protection to non–job-related illness or injury. Benefit levels would be determined under formulas similar to those now used by social security as amended by my proposals above.

With respect to long-term disability, I propose that we reexamine the concept of total disability, particularly for younger workers. It seems reasonable to retrain younger workers for whatever occupations their disabilities allow and to assist them with job placement.^[8]